The picture is a great one, really sets the stage for your words. Love the your words too. Some people always want to make things into black vs. white, no matter what. Feeling put down, whether real or imagined, gives them some strength.

somehow the picture frightens me and it works out the contrast we want to bridge.. maybe that's also the artistic value of it..holding a mirror to make us see..your words do this as well..and think much has changed already but still a long way to go..

Jeepers, that photo creeps me out, sitting here at way past my bedtime, blogging with candles all around me and my family long since asleep...But that was probably what you were going for (the creepy thing) so good job and now I'm going to a photoblog to look at some flowers...

Dear Brian, indeed, that question is so profound. How long have we come really. I would like to believe that we have changed and I guess the optimist in me hopes we have.Have a great Monday dear friend,xoxo

Whoa, Brian, I believe this woman is somewhere in my family tree. Both applied to grandma Blanche - poor and bipolar. This was striking in its brevity and power. Thank you so much. Amyhttp://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/dissonance-the-races-we-run/

Will check out the link you mention, Brian. The moment I finished your poem I was thinking, "Yeah, more than ever it's black or white... just a different set of hates is all." And, about halfway down you said "or the target has just changed."

Bingo. The image scared me. But, then, I have issues. It isn't the black and white, but, it is a terribly disturbing image on several levels. It may be "artful" but, for me, I cannot look. The poem brought it OUT of that realm though. And then I looked at it with fresh eyes.

Which is what your poetry so often does, Brian. It offers me fresh eyes.

I finds the photo so eerie. I do not think it has to do with the black and white...because as the photographer it has to have those shades to be as arty as it is. It is more that all of their faces are hidden and her's is not...kind of creepy.

This image has acted like a hornet's nest on the imagination, trying to reconcile contradictory emotions. I sense a repulsion in ur poem at what is represented in the ambiguity. I personally loved the challenge on my cultural conditioning.I also see that ur last line is offended by the artistic license of the photographer as if the black and white effect may have been purely cosmetic. Still, ur poem 4 me demonstrates how different the realities of observers can be. Thanx 4 sharing.

I gather this photo is a prompt since I saw it somewhere earlier this week. I love the different writing that comes from prompts. Yours is shorter in length and more ambiguous, yet more haunting than the other. I'm reminded of the witch hunts, and then the mention of "black and white" taps me on the shoulder with racism. Nothing is simple. Enjoyed this.

Dear Brian: Wonders why this seems to be the fate of man to be so condemnational instead of raise-the-national. Interesting as I am sure all thought this black white and had to tweak to less ingrained acid burn.